Not as bad this time (originally posted 6/29/2009)

This seems like it should be an easy hospital trip, if such animal exists. I saw Mom today, after she had been in for almost 24 hours, she was feeling much better.

When I spoke to her Saturday afternoon, she was mumbling and trying not to vomit. Apparently, right after we got off the phone she began vomiting and basically couldn't stop. Last night she asked Dad to call her oncologist and take her to the hospital. They did speak to the oncologist, who got everything cleared for her to go in through the ER so she could be admitted to the oncology floor. So they went in to the ER about 5:30 last night, and she told me that they got a room at 4 AM. Nothing like efficiency, let me tell you!

I chose not to go up to the hospital last night. There was nothing for me to do, nowhere for me to be. Dad sat in a hard plastic folding chair next to Mom's bed in the ER for nearly 12 hours. If I was there, we would have had to take turns standing, and both of us had to work today. Besides, I had a patient coming in this morning for half of a full-mouth rehabilitation case, and I needed to be on top of my game for that one.

After work today, I stopped by. She really looked good. Her color was better than I have seen in a few weeks. She was cheery and laughing. I managed to get her laughing hard enough she was crying, so that's a good note. The doctors think she will get to go home maybe Wed or Thurs. Personally, I am betting on Thursday. They just want to make sure she's OK and not send her home too early.

I am currently unsure as to the cause of all this. Cancer, yes. But why? I imagaine she probably ate something she wasn't supposed to (popcorn is her favorite forbidden food, followed by french fries.) but she denies it. She was in some pretty serious pain last week for most of the week. It may have just been building up. I keep reminding her that if she doesn't eat, her intestines won't process the previous thing she ate, and everything just sits there and rots. Lovely picture, I know. But that produces lots of gas, which produces pressure, which leads to pain. So, eating is very necessary. Fluids alone won't cut it.

Oh, I forgot to say something - WE GOT IN TO SAN ANTONIO!!!!!!!!!!! Her urine tests came back within the investigational guidelines. They called today to let her know, but because of the late notice (and the hospitalization) she will be starting NEXT week, rather than this week. She did tell them about being hospitalized, and they said that as long as she can make it down there next week to start (she'll just be 1 week behind the rest of the study) it's OK. I think she'll discharge herself if necessary to make everything work. So Aunt Jean - I think you'll have some company next week!!

OK, that's all for tonight. Honestly, I'm exhausted. Even knowing that everything is OK, and is going to be OK, it's still exhausting with your mom in the hospital for the third time in 6 months. Thankfully, this hospital has free parking. Otherwise I'd be searching for a way to write that off on my taxes next year. (Hmmm, would that count towards medical expenses?)

Thank you all for your prayers. We can feel them, and we all still need them! As always, please forward this to anyone I might have forgotten! I promise I never intentionally leave anyone off the list!!